Amusement racing device.



R. SHUYLBR.

AMUSEMBNT RACING DEVIUE.

APPLIOATION FILED mns, 1913.

i D @TABS PATE T @FFME- REYNOLD S'HU'YLEB, OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.

.AMUSEMENT RACING DEVICE.

Specitm of Lettera Patent.

, Patented Sept. 2,1913.

Application tiled February 1913. Serial No. 745,771.

To all lwho/ml it may concern Be it known that I, REYN'oLD SHUYLER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of San Diego, county of San Diego, and State of' California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in 'operator of said apparatus, and the prirlc"i- Ypal objects of my invention are, first, to

provide a device ofthis kind that will give each rider an equal chance of winning; second, to provide a device in which each apparatus is provided with mechanism that the rider can easily operate so as to adjust the speed of said a Aparatus; third, to provide a device that llas a unique and novel' amusement feature and that 1s neat in ap` pearance.

With these and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear my invention consists of certain novel fieature's of construction, combination and arrangement of arts as will be hereinafter described in etail and. particularly set :forth in the appended claims, reference bein had to the accompanying drawings an to the characters of reference thereon, which form a part of this specification, in whichr Figure 1, is a plan view of my device complete with sections of the oor broken away to show the mechanism beneath, Fig. 2 is a side elevationalview thereof shown partly in section, Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view through AFF-B of Fig. 1, showin the mechanism for operating the sweeps, ig. 4 is a front elevational view of a horse with portions broken away to show the guides in connection therewith, Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the clutch mechanism in connection with a fragmentary portion of a horse, Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of the lever arrangement for operating one of the clutches, and Fi 7 is an enlarged detail View of the clutc mechanism.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings I have shown a device adapted for three racers, but it may be built for any number desired. I will, therefore, describe the one as shown.

The platform l, cables 2, ,shafts 3, shafts 4:, main driving shafting 5, horses 6, sweep mechanism 7, clutch mechanism 8, guiding mechanism 9, constitute the principal parts of my device. l

The platform 1 is preferably loop shaped and constructed as shown best in Figs. 1 and 2, and is made of any suitable 'mate rial, preferably of wood. -It is provided with three slots l, one of which is located directl beneath each of the horses 6 and exten s the full length of the loop in the said platform. The platform 1 is provided with a main shafting 5 which is divided by the differential gears 5", and-on the one end of said shafting is provided a pulley '5b upon which a drivin belt- 5' is mounted which may be operate byany driving mechanism. This shafting 5 is also provided near each end with three sets of sheaves 5 and each set consists of three sheaves of different diameters which are rigidly attached to said shafting 5. The center sheave of each set is located directly beneath one of the slots 1 of the plat-form 1. Upon each of these sheaves 5 is mounted an endless cable 2 which extends to and around the sheaves 4. ,These sheaves 4" are loosely mounted on the shaft 4 with the exception of one which is ri dly attached'to the shaft 4. Un one end lo this shaft 4 is rigidl mounted a transmission sheave 4b whic will operate the corresponding transmission sheave 3" which is ri'dly mounted on one end of the shaft 3. is shaft 3 is provided with three sets of sheaves 3. Each set consists of three sheaves of different diameters, each of which operates an endless cable 2, which is similar to those on the shafting 5. These sheaves are of various sizes and differently arranged so that the corresponding sheaves on each of said shafts will erate their cables at a different speed. T o other sections of cables are operated in a similar manner throughout the entire device.

TheA sweeps 7 are operated bymeans of a beveled gear in connection with one ofthe shafts 4. They may be operated in many different ways, but prefer the construction liti as shown best in ligs. Il, 2 and 3, and as described in the followingl description: These Sweeps or arms 7a are rigidly attached centrally near the'to end of a shaft 7b and each extend out a su cient distance to overlap the slot l which is nearest the outer edge of the platform l. The bottom end of the shaft 7b is pivotcd in the gearing 7 and is provided at the top with a bearing 7d. Rigidly attached to the shaft 7b near its center is a beveled lgear 7e which is revolved by another beveled gear 7, which is rigidly mounted on one end of the shaft 7g. Un the other end of this shaft is rigidly mounted a gear wheel 7h. This shaft is supported by the bearings 7i. This gear wheel 7h is revolved by va gear wheel 75 which is rigidly mounted on a shaft 7k which is sup- -ported by the bearings 71. This gear dao wheel is in turn revolved by the gear wheel ab which is rigidly mounted on one end of the shaft d. This shaft d is similar to the' other shafts l that are provided with a plurality of sheaves 4a which are all loosely mounted except one, this being rigidly attached so as tov revolve the shaftA 4, thus turning the gear wheel 4J. llt will be here noted that this sweep mechanism is for the purpose of moving the horses around the curved portion ofthe platform, but said mechanism may be eliminated and the horses would go around by reason of their momentum, especially if the one side of the platform was at a higher elevation than the other at that end which would be easily accomplished by building said platform in sections, which is the preferable construction.

The horse. 6 is of the ordinary type used for such purposes, its rear legs being rigidly attached to a shaft 6iL on the ends of which the wheels 6b are pivotally mounted as shown best in Fig. 5. The front legs of the horse 6 are pivotally mounted to a crank shaft 6c to which the wheels 6d are rigidly attached. This horse is provided with a guide 9 a suli'ici'ent distance back from the front of said horse so as to clear the crank shaft 6c as it rotates. This guide consists of a tube 9n which is rigidly attached to the inside of the horse by means of a support 9b and is adapted for the staff 9c. rThe lower end of the staff 9c is provided with a Y'vertically mountedroller 9d that is of suflicient diameter as to t loosely in the slot 1a of the platform l and is held from slipping out by the collar 9e of the stad 9C. Near the bottom of said staff 9C is a roller support 9t which is provided with a plurality vof horizontally mounted rollers l9g and is held against the platform by means of the collar 9h, thus as the front of the horse 6 is moved up and down by the rotation of the crank shaft 6e the staff 9c will reciprocate in the tubing 9, and, the lower end being held in the slot 9 of the platform, will guide the horse over maaier said platform 1. This horse is also provided with a clutch mechanism 8 which consists of three levers 8a which are pivotally mounted near the neck of said horse 6, as shown best in Figs. 2 and 4. To the lower ends of these three levers 8a are pivotally connected three connecting rods 8b which extend to and through the arms 8C and they are provided with tension springs 8d. These arms 8 are bent as shown best in Figs. 2 and 6, their horizontal portions being provided with slots 8e which are adapted for the studs 8f of the lstads 8g, and said arms 8c are pivotally mounted on the horse at 8m. These stads .are shaped as shown best in llig. 5 and are provided at their lower ends with the forks 8h. The forks of each staff being directly over one of the three cables directly beneath the horse 6 and each prong of the fork is provided with a cam lever 8l, the upper ends of which are ivoted together by means of the pins an near the lower ends are provided with slots 8k which are adapted for the pins 8 which are rigidly attached to the prongs of the forks 8h so that when the stads 8g are forced downward and the upper part of the cam levers come in contact with the cable beneath theywill be forced upward, thus causing the inner surface of these cam levers to clutch the cable rigidly, all of which is shown best in Fig. 7.

Tt is obvious that if the rider of said horse pulls back on one of said levers the clutch will catch the cable direct-ly beneath it; that the said cables being driven continuously and the clutch being attached rigidly to the horse the horse will be forced to travel the same speed as the cable; that the speed of the horse may bey varied by the different clutches engaging with the various speed cables.

Though yil have shown and described a particular detailed construction, combination and arrangement of parts, T do not Iwish to be limited to this particular construction and arrangement, but desire to include in the purview of my invention the principles and construction ksubstantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Tt will be readily seen that with this construction there is provided an amusement :racing device in which each rider has an equal chance of winning; that the device will provide new amusement features, that the speed of each apparatus can be governed by the rider upon his operating the levers provided; that there is provided an amusement racing device that is easily operated and neat in appearance i that there is provided an amusement racing device that will give all the sensations of a. real horse race.

Having' thus described my invention, what l claim as new and. desire to secure by laet- -ters Patent, is

l. i racing device comprising 'a plurality of tracks side by side, a pluralityof various speed moving cables mounted below each of Said tracks, a plurality of racin apparatuses adapted to be readily attache to and detached from any of said cables, and means in connection with and operated fromany one of said racing apparatuses for attaching and detaching the same.

2. In a racing device, the combination of aloop shaped platform provided with a plurality of grooves therein, a plurality of variable speed cables mounted beneath each of said grooves, a racing device adapted to run on said platform over each of said grooves, a means in connection with said racing device adapted to facilitate its engagement with any one of said cables beneath said groove and means for operating said cables.

3. In a racing device, the combination of a loop sha ed platformprovided with a plurality o grooves therein, a plurality of variable speed. cables mounted beneath each of said grooves, a racing device adapted to run on said `platform over each of said grooves, a means in connection with said racing device adapted to facilitate its engagement with any one of said cables beneath said groove, means for operating said cables and a sweep means adapted to engage with said racing devices for moving sald racing devices around the end of said loop.

4. In a racing device, the combination of a loop shaped platform provided with a plurality of grooves therein, a plurality o f variable speed cables mounted beneath each of said grooves, a racing device adapted to run on said platform over each of said grooves, a mea-ns in connection with saidl racing device adapted to facilitate its engagement with any one of said cables beneath said grooves, means for revolving said cables, Aa sweep means adapted to engage f with jsaid racing devices for moving said racing devices around the. end'of said loop, and means for operating said sweep means in connection with said cables.

5. In a racing device the combination of a platform provided with a plurality of grooves therein, a plurality of shafts mounted beneath said platform, a plural-ity of sets 'of various sized sheaves mounted' beneath each of'said grooves on said shafts, cables mounted longitudinally along said platform on each alined set of sheaves and a racing device for each of said grooves adapted to be guided bysaid grooveand means for facilitating its engagementwith any one of said cables beneath said groove.

y6. In a racing device'the combination of a platform provided with a plurality of grooves, a pluralityof shafts mounted beneath said platform, a plurality of sets of various sized sheaves mounted beneath each of said grooves on said shafts, cables mounted longitudinally along said platform on each alined set of sheaves, a racing device for each of said grooves adaptedI to be guided by said groove, means for facilitatlng its engagement with any one of said cables beneath said groove and means for simultaneously revolving said shafts.

7. In a racing device the combination of a platform provided with a plurality of grooves, a plurality ofshafts mounted beneath said platform, a plurality of sets of various sized sheaves mounted beneath each `of said grooves on said shafts, cables mounted longitudinally along said platform on each alined set of sheaves and a racing device for eachofsaid grooves adapted to be guidedy by said groove, means for facilitating its engagement with any one of said cables beneath said groove, means for simultaneouslv revolving said shafts, and a means in connection with said racing device lor causing the same to intermittently rise and lower.

8. In a racing device the combination of a'platform provided With a plurality of grooves, a plurality of shafts mounted beneath said platform, a plurality of sets of various sized sheaves mounted beneath each of said grooves on said shafts, cables mounted longitudinally along said platform on each alined set of sheaves and a racing device for each of said grooves adapted to be guided by said groove, means for facilitating its engagement with any one of said cables beneath said groove, means for simultaneously` revolving said shafts, means in connection with said racing device for causmg the same to intermittently rise and lower, and a separate means adapted to engage with said racing ,devices for moving them at certain points along said platform.

9. In a racing device the combination of a platform rovided with a plurality of grooves, a p urality of shafts mounted beneath said platform, a plurality of sets of various sized sheaves mounted beneath each of said grooves on said shafts, cables mounted longitudinally along said platform on each alined set of sheaves andaracing device for each of said grooves adapted to be guided by said groove, means -for facilitating its engagement with any one of s aid cables beneath said groove, means for simultaneously revolving said shafts, means in connection with said racing device for causing thesame to intermittently rise and lower and a sweep means adapted to move said racing devices along said platform at one end thereof.

10.y In a racing devicethe combination of a platform provided with a plurality of grooves, a plurality of shafts mounted beneath said platform, a plurality of sets of various sized sheaves mounted beneath each of said grooves on said shafts, cables mounted longitudinally along said platform on each alined set of sheaves and a racing device for each of said grooves adapted to be guided by said groove, mea-ns for iacilita; ing 4its engagement with any one of said cables under said groove, means for simultaneously revolving said shafts, means in connection with said racing device for caus- .ing Athe same to intermittently rise and lower, a sweep means adapted to move said 10 racing device along sani platform and noemer means forV facilitating the operation of said sweep device.

- REYNLD SHUYLER.

Witnesses Annan B. BowMAN, Emme E., RODABAUGH, 

